Michigan Earns Point at Maryland in Big Ten Opener

Thursday, September 14

College Park, Md.

7:00 PM

Michigan

1-2-3, 0-0-1

Maryland

1-2-2, 0-0-1

Michigan

Maryland

Michael Leon (Michigan Photography)

9/14/2023 9:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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By: Megan McIntosh

» Michigan tied Maryland 2-2 to earn one point in its Big Ten Conference opener.
» Michael Leon scored his second goal of the season and recorded a point for the third straight game.
» Bryce Blevins netted the Michigan equalizer.
» Isaiah Goldson made three saves in his first collegiate start.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team earned a point in its Big Ten opener as it tied Maryland 2-2 on Thursday night (Sept. 14) at Ludwig Field.

Junior Michael Leon scored his second goal of the season for Michigan (1-2-3) and recorded his third straight match with a point, while Bryce Blevins netted his second goal of the season with the equalizer in the second half. Senior Quin Rogers and graduate student Riley Ferch had assists on the night and freshman Isaiah Goldson made his first collegiate start between the pipes with three saves.

Michigan attacked early and often as a Alex Waggoner shot sailed wide before Rogers pushed the ball up the field for Leon who was sprinting down the right flank. Leon slipped in past his defender and pushed a shot over the goal line into the bottom-left corner to give the Wolverines a 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute of action.

Maryland (1-2-2) answered in the 26th minute as it scored on a set-piece opportunity and added its second goal in the 35th minute to take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

The Wolverines came out of the break strong and capitalized on their first opportunity of the second half when Ferch collected the ball inside the 18-yard box and passed it back to Blevins, who took one touch and fired the ball through traffic off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net to tie the match at 2 in the 61st minute.

With the momentum on Michigan's side, Ferch tried to give U-M the lead in the 76th minute but his shot was blocked by the Terrapin defense. The Wolverine defense stood strong against a flurry of shots from Maryland to keep the game tied before the Terrapins were given a red card with nine minutes to play and forced to play with 10 men. However, neither team was able to find the game-winner and the match ended in a draw.

Michigan will conclude its four-game road swing Tuesday (Sept. 19) at 7 p.m., when it takes on Oakland.